There are a lot of perks when it comes to taking online classes – you can do your work in your pajamas and attend class at a time that works for you (yes, even after working an overnight shift). However, there are also a lot of myths when it comes to taking online classes – classes are easier, logging in counts as attending class, and my personal favorite, there are no due dates for assignments.
But at Monroe Community College, they are turning one myth – that you don’t meet your teacher face to face – completely upside down.
To help facilitate this connection between students and teachers, MCC has unveiled its Virtual Campus Center, which coincidentally is located in the actual campus center building, the R. Thomas Flynn Campus Center.
The center is focused on improving the online student experience in the effort to help more students earn more degrees. MCC faculty will have access to video and audio studios so that they can record lectures and Powerpoint presentations to include in their courses for online use. Faculty can also attend training sessions to learn how to better incorporate these tools into their lessons.
Monroe’s 3,600 online students will benefit from the campus center through more engaging course materials. Larry Dugan, Director of E-Learning and Instructional Technologies at MCC, says “Students feel more connected if they can see the professor.” Indeed they do, as the experience can become more interactive.
With online programs dating back to 1997, Monroe Community College has been involved in online education for some time. MCC now offers 2 of the 64 online programs powered by Open SUNY+ – an Associate of Science in Sports Management and an Associate of Science in Mathematics.
With 19 campuses in total, Open SUNY+ programs are targeted to meet high-demand careers identified in New York State by educating our future workforce with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed. Students in Open SUNY+ programs also have access to a number of services designed to increase their chance of successfully completing an online degree, from technical support to applied learning opportunities.
For more information and resources on faculty supports for online learning, please visit the Open SUNY Center for Online Teaching Excellence.
And to explore online learning programs and courses at SUNY, head to the Open SUNY Navigator.
